THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8401, 16 April 1907, Page 5

THE IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Received April 15, 8.25 a.m. LONDON, April 14. It is officially announced that the opening of the Imperial Conference will be in private, Lord Elgin ingAfter delivering an address, Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman will withdraw. .• All the Premiers, excepting Sir R. Bond, Premier of Newfoundland, who has not arrived, will attend the conference, also colonial Ministers at present in London. Lord Reay, who was Under-Secre-tary for India, in 1894-95, announces that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman will appoint a representative of India, probably Sir J. Mackay, formerly a merchant in India, to attend the Colonial Conference to support freetride for India. Lord Reay thinks he will prove a hard nut for the Premiers to crack. Mr Deakin is amused. Received April 15, 9.3 a.m. LONDON, April 14., General Botha, Premier of the Transvaal, and Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister of the Dominion of Canada, have arrived to attend the conference. General Botha was given a hearty reception at Southampton, and at London. Replying to an address of welcome from the Southampton Corporation, he used the words: "God bless our King and Empire." Received April 15, 9.40 p.m. LONDON, 'April 15. The British Empire League have memorialised the Premiers to secure some form of continuity of the Conferences. Received April 15, 10.40 p.m. LONDON, April 15. Mr A. Deakin, Sir J. G. Ward, Dr. Jameson, and Mr Moor, favour open discussions at the Conference. Great Britain and Sir Wilfrid Laur- ' ier object. Mr Louis Botha is I doubtful. Sir Wilfrid Laurier says | that he is unable to speak freely on Canada's position in the presence of the Press. The question of publicity will be the first subject discussed. Received April 15, 9.50 p.m. LONDON, April 15. The Daily News declares that the Liberals are entirely prepared to discuss at the Conference any subject that may tend to Imperial unity and the common welfare of the colonies and the Motherland. Preference will be freely discussed at the Con ference, but it is recognised at the outset that- England will remain a freetrade country. Britain alone among the great, nations of Europe admits duty free corn from Canada, wine from the Cape and mutton from Australia. "If," says the paper, "the colonies are inclined to retaliate upon the other nations of Europe by admitting in return English goods free or with a lower duty,, we will accept such consideration with gratitude, but neither demand nor solicit such a concession. Each colony must choose a system best suited to its own interests. There ought \o be a strong demand for some per manent organisation in the centre of the Empire [for the purposes of : consultation. Most will look favourably at it."

"ARCHITECTS OF THE FUTURE." Received April 15, 8.55 a.m. LONDON, April 14. On the eve of the Conference Mr Deakin remarked to an Australian press interviewer that the first Conference was an absolute novelty. It was unsettled regarding its character, conduct and functions, and was of the nature of an experiment. It was at best an expedient. But the fourth conference was almost an institution. The extension of Empire was picturesquely expressed by the presence of General Botha, Premier of the Transvaal. Though without power, the conference exercised a great perturbing influence on all current policies, especially Britain's. The results achieved in the council chamber must be small compared with the influence exercised upon, and the great impetus bound to be given to, Imperial reflections. A new period of Imperial evolution was opening. He hoped that our own peoples would be able to make a place in history worthy of those rejoicing in the possession of a great past, and that they would feel thtir responsibilities as architects of the future.